Let’s give hero non-Brit essential workers UK citizenship as a thank you for helping us out in our hour of need

Comment

Lorraine Kelly

Apr 17 2020, 15:15 ET

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I WAS stopped in my tracks this week by one of the most powerful videos to have come out of this whole sad crisis.

“You Clap For Me Now” ­features men and women who came to Britain from every corner of the world to make a new life for themselves.

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The video is a very simple but effective concept, and reminds us of the contribution made to our lives by people from all parts of Europe, Asia and AfricaCredit: EPA

They are currently grafting in the NHS, serving in shops, driving delivery vans and working on farms.

The video is a very simple but effective concept, and reminds us of the contribution made to our lives by people from all parts of Europe, Asia and Africa.

Their huge contribution is evident if you look at the faces of those NHS ­workers who have died while working on the front line.

It is striking that the majority are black or Asian Brits.

Some, like Dr Alfa Saadu, came out of retirement to help save lives and ended up making the ultimate sacrifice ­themselves.

Then there was nurse Mary Agyapong, right, who died from ­Covid-19 days after her baby was born by emergency C-section. Her little girl has been named Mary after her mum, and thank the lord is doing well, but she will now have to grow up without her mother’s love.

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The message being conveyed is really important because it says your skin ­colour, your religion or your background should never ­matterCredit: PA:Press Association

They are heroes, every single one of them.

Some have criticised this video, calling it divisive. They have even accused those who created and took part in it of claiming all white people in the UK are racist.

I don’t agree.

I believe the message being conveyed is really important because it says your skin ­colour, your religion or your background should never ­matter.

I think the vast majority of Brits are colour- blind, but sadly there is a minority of ­bigots who have views that are ugly, repellent and dangerous.

What’s important, especially right now, is what you can contribute to society and how you can make the world a ­better place.

No jumping through hoops

All those toiling in the NHS, in care homes, emptying the bins — the delivery workers, security guards, supermarket workers and everyone keeping the country running — are doing a brilliant job no matter where they were born or what god they happen to worship.

It does no harm for us to stop for a minute to remember that.

At the end of this video, I felt grateful to these wonderful people for choosing to begin new lives and raise their families here in the UK.

I also think that all the essential workers grafting during this crisis and who aren’t British by birth should be given UK citizenship immediately as a small token of our appreciation.

No jumping through hoops. No red tape.

Just a thank you for helping us out in our hour of need, and welcome home.

Give now to The Sun's NHS appeal

BRITAIN’s four million NHS staff are on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.

But while they are helping save lives, who is there to help them?

The Sun has launched an appeal to raise £1MILLION for NHS workers.

The Who Cares Wins Appeal aims to get vital support to staff in their hour of need.

We have teamed up with NHS Charities Together in their urgent Covid-19 Appeal to ensure the money gets to exactly who needs it.

The Sun is donating £50,000 and we would like YOU to help us raise a million pounds, to help THEM.

Taiwan’s female president Tsai Ing-wen also acted immediately. She ordered planes from China to be inspected, and implemented tight controls. As a result, deaths have not reached double figures out of a population of 24million.

Germany’s Angela Merkel has seen a surge in her popularity because of the way she has han- dled the crisis. Germany has been able to detect the virus earlier, which means they can isolate and treat patients more effectively.

The world’s youngest leader is Finland’s Prime Minister, 34-year-old Sanna Marin, and she is a wise head on young shoulders. Her handling of the crisis has seen 72 deaths in a population of 5.5million.

Again she acted swiftly.

Nicola's inspiring

IT was a relief to interview Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon this week, because she answered every single question with honesty and clarity and came across as well informed and on top of her game.

She possesses an emotional intelligence and warmth that is woefully absent from most of Boris’s Cabinet.

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Sturgeon possesses an emotional intelligence and warmth that is woefully absent from most of Boris’s CabinetCredit: Getty - Pool

Like former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, who I also interviewed recently, Nicola is a human being and not an automaton.

Both are head and shoulders above the ­ministers wheeled out to face the media during those excruciating daily No10 briefings.

When Health Secretary Matt Hancock is your most empathetic representative then you know you’re in trouble.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule when it comes to women in positions of power, and I’m afraid Home Secretary Priti Patel has not been covering herself in glory.

She was caught out exhibiting similar maths skills to Diane Abbott.

But most women in positions of power have proved to be more effective leaders than their male counterparts and are certainly more likely to react quickly and be able to inform and reassure their citizens.

Lucky Kate's looking Goody

IN non-coronavirus news I see that 46-year-old actress Kate Beckinsale has a new squeeze, in the form of 22-year-old rocker Goody Grace, which of course means she is more than twice his age.

No one would turn a hair if it was a male actor who was going out with a much younger girl, and I reckon good luck to Kate.

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Kate Beckinsale has a new squeeze in the form of 22-year-old rocker Goody GraceCredit: BackGrid

But that said, I also honestly don’t know where she gets her energy. I genuinely salute her stamina because most boys that age are essentially just a walking penis with a bloke at the end of it.

Safe recovery

IT was good to see Linda Lusardi and her husband Sam Kane continue to recover after contracting Covid-19.

They are both still suffering from fatigue and breathing problems, but improving every day.

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Linda Lusardi and her husband Sam Kane continue to recover after contracting Covid-19

They are also one of the closest couples I know, but their love has been strengthened even further.

We’ve all had a reset during this strange time and come to realise exactly what’s important – and that is our family and friends.

Like all of you, I can’t wait to see the ones I love in person and be able to hold them tightly and tell them how much they mean to me.

WWI generation a beacon of light amid the darkness

THERE’S something very special about the generation born before World War One. They might now be few and far between but they certainly make their presence felt in the most impressive way.

Just look at great-granny Connie Titchen, who is Britain’s oldest Covid-19 survivor at the age of 106.

Connie was given a guard of honour leaving Birmingham City Hospital.

She was born in 1913 and has lived through two world wars and the Spanish Flu epidemic.

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Then there’s the astounding Captain Tom Moore, who hoped he would raise £1,000 for the NHS by walking 100 times around his garden before his 100th birthday later this month. Capt Tom has captured our imagination and hearts and is well on track to raise enough money to build his own hospital.

Watching him shuffle around his garden, dressed smartly in a suit and tie and proudly wearing his medals is both moving and inspirational. He’s a beacon of light amid the darkness.

Captain Tom Moore completes his challenge of 100 laps round his garden raising over £12 million for the NHS